Sevilla's Del Nido sentenced over embezzlement

Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for his role in the embezzlement of public funds in the town of Marbella, Spain.

Del Nido, a lawyer by profession, was among several people found guilty in the ’Minutas’ case by a court in Malaga today for their involvement in a corruption ring that diverted public funds from Marbella town hall.

The rulings can be appealed to Madrid’s supreme court.

Del Nido, 54, became Sevilla president in 2002 and during his tenure the Andalusian club have won the both the UEFA Cup and Spanish Copa del Rey twice, as well as the UEFA Super Cup and the Spanish Super Cup.

Sevilla vice-president Jose Castro said on his club’s website today: “We want to give our president the best support possible. A tremendously unjust sentence isn’t going to stop him being president of Sevilla, because it’s not a definitive sentence, it can be appealed.”